Spreading tool for restoring the shape of annular products

ABSTRACT

A tool for restoring a deformed or collapsed annular product having a hollow core. An elongate rigid staff carrying an expansible wedge section is forcibly inserted into the hollow core. A hydraulic cylinder located in the exposed end of the staff houses a piston which transmits force through the staff to a spreading cam contained in the wedge section so as to spread the wedge when pressure is introduced against the piston in the cylinder.

United States Patent [191 Priester 1 SPREADING TOOL FOR RESTORING THE SHAPE OF ANNULAR PRODUCTS [76] Inventor: Jack E. Priester, 1560 Marsha Ave.,

Modesto, Calif. 95350 [22] Filed: Dec. 7, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 312,853

[52] US. Cl 72/392, 72/370, 72/393 [51] Int. Cl B2ld 41/02 [58] Field Of Search 72/370, 392, 393

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1.119.416 12/1914 Elger 72/392 2,142,017 12/1938 Riemenschneider 72/392 2,155,416 4/1939 Geyer 72/392 2,341,278 2/1944 Long 2,423,458 7/1947 Martin 2,780,122 2/1957 McCown 72/392 June 18, 1974 2,818,102 12/1957 Siefferle 72/392 3,466,921 9/1969 Steiniger ..72/393 Primary ExaminerCharles W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-James R. Duzan Attorney, Agent, or Firm Flehr, Hohbach, Test, Albritton & Herbert [5 7] ABSTRACT A tool for restoring a deformed or collapsed annular product having a hollow core. An elongate rigid staff carrying an expansible wedge section is forcibly inserted into the hollow core. A hydraulic cylinder located in the exposed end of the staff houses a piston which transmits force through the staff to a spreading cam contained in the wedge section so as to spread the wedge when pressure is introduced against the piston in the cylinder.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to a spreading tool and method for restoring deformed annular products and is particularly useful in restoring the cylindrical shape to collapsed rolls of paper, plastic film, tubing, metal foil or sheets, etc. I

The aforementioned materials, among many others, are often rolled in coils on hollow cores for storage after completion of the manufacturing process while awaiting end use. Mishandling in shipment or storage may partially or fully collapse the cores and deform the rolls. Before normal use is possible the rolled material must be restored to its annular shape. Heretofore, restoring forces have been applied to the exterior of the roll, but these techniques serve to damage the material collected on the core and therefore have met with lim ited acceptance. To achieve the desired reforming and to circumvent possible damage to the stored material on the roll a device has been needed which will exert the required restoring forces radially outwardly from the interior of the hollow core.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTS The spreading tool described herein is utilized by inserting it within a collapsed hollow core of a normally cylindrical storage roll for the purpose of reforming the roll to its original configuration. The tool comprises an elongate rigid staff with an anvil cap on one end and an expansible split wedge assembly on the other end to be inserted into the core. Striking blows force the wedge end into the center of the collapsed core. Adjacent to the anvil cap and within the rigid staff is a hydraulic chamber serving as a cylinder having flow passages for introducing and exhausting fluid under pressure into and out of the chamber. A piston within the chamber mechanically transmits extending and retracting forces to a cam element disposed within the expansible BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. .1 is a partial cross sectional side elevation view of the spreading tool in its expanded condition, according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional side elevation view of an expansible wedge on the spreading tool in its collapsed condition.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the expansible wedge of the spreading tool in its collapsed condition.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT I pressure into and out of a cylinder 18. A piston 19 is wedge. Hydraulic pressure introduced through one of the flow passages forces the cam against an internal cam surface within the expansible wedge, causing it to enlarge radially and reform the core and the material stored thereon.

In general it is an object of the invention to provide an improved tool and method for restoring the shape to deformed annular products to render useful such products damaged through mishandling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool and methodfor restoring the shape of annular products without damaging the material of the roll.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool and method for restoring the shape of annular products while also reforming the core upon which they are rolled to provide permanent restoration of their annular shape.

Additional objects and features of the tool and method for restoring the shape to annular products will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

disposed within cylinder 18. An anvil cap 22 is fixed in the rear end of the cylinder 18 and a guide cap 23 is fixed in the forward end of the cylinder 18. The flow passages 16 and 17 can be seen to pass through a portion of the anvil cap 22 and guide cap 23 respectively in gaining communication with the cylinder 18. Piston 19 has means for preventing fluid by-pass flow such as O-rings 24.

Concentric bores 25 and 28 are formed in guide cap 23. The larger bore 28 receives elongate rigid stafi 11 for fixing the hydraulic cylinder assembly 12 to the staff: A piston rod 29 is fixedly engaged in a blind core 30 in piston 19. A rod 29 passes through the smaller bore 25 and the center of hollow elongate stafi 11 to the interior of the spreadable wedge assembly 13. Means for preventing fluid leakage along the piston rod 29 through the smaller bore 25 is provided by O-ring 31.

The spreadable wedge assembly 13 carried at the forward end of the spreading tool has a moveable top wedge element 34 and a fixed bottom wedge element 35. A wedge ramp 36 is formed on the forward end of the top wedge element 34 and a pivot 37 is formed on the rear portion of wedge element 34. An internal cam follower surface 40 is formed near the forward portion of wedge element 34.

Both top and bottom wedge elements 34 and 35 have interior channels 41 and matching edge surfaces 42. A cam member 43 is threadably attached to the forward end of piston rod 29 for slidable movement within the channels 41. A cam surface 46 is formed on the top portion of cam member 43.

Referring to FIG. 4 the pivot 37 and associated parts may more fully be described. Pivot plates 47 are shaped to fit in recesses 48 on each side of channel 41 in bottom wedge element 35. Plates 47 are held in place in channel 42 by means such as rivets 49. Threaded holes 50 are placed in the upper portion of pivot plates 47. A clearance hole 52 is placed in each side of the channel 41 in top wedge element 34. The pivot 37 is in the form of a shoulder pin in this embodiment.

A vernier scale 53 is provided on the outer surface of elongate hollow staff 11 in association with an opening 54 through which a reference mark 55 may be sighted on piston rod 29.

As shown in FIG. 1, fluid pressure applied through fiow passage 17 in hydraulic cylinder assembly 12 causes piston 19 to move toward the rear of the cylinder 18 causing piston rod 29 to urge cam member 43 toward the rear of the spreadable wedge assembly 13 in the channels 41. When cam member 43 is in such a position cam surface 46 is no longer in contact with cam follower surface 40, the matching edge surfaces 42 of top and bottom wedge elements 34 and 35 are in contact and the spreadable wedge assembly 13 is in the collapsed condition as best seen in FIG. 2. The spreading tool forward end, having spreadable wedge assembly 13 attached, is inserted in the collapsed condition into a hollow core to be reformed. Striking blows are applied to the anvil cap 22 on the rear end of the spreading tool assembly to drive wedge assembly 13 deeper into the core 10 by means of the wedging action provided by wedge ramp 36.

After the spreading tool assembly has been inserted to the desired depth and is in full engagement with the interior of the collapsed core 10, pressure is directed through the flow passage 16 which forces the piston 19 toward the forward end of the cylinder 18. Piston motion is transferred through piston rod 29 to cam member 43 within the spreadable wedge assembly 13. Cam surface 46 is urged forward contacting internal cam follower surface 40 causing top wedge element 34 to pivot about pivot point 37 to assume the spread condition as seen in FIG. 1. The spreading action of wedge assembly 13 exerts a radial force at the interior of the core 10 which reforms the core 10 to its normal annular or cylindrical condition.

One configuration of the spreading tool has a two and one half inch height when collapsed as seen in FIG. 3 which increases laterally with respect to the tool to a height of four and one eighth inches when spread as seen in FIG. 1. The ramp angle formed on internal cam follower surface 40 provides an approximate three to one mechanical advantage when contacted by cam surface 46 when cam member 43 undergoes translational motion in channel 41. Hydraulic cylinder assembly 12 is capable in this embodiment of transmitting a nine ton translational force to the cam member 43. Thus a 27 ton radial spreading force can be exerted inside the core 10 for reforming the core and the materials carred thereon to their normal shape.

The Vernier 53 in conjunction with the piston rod reference mark 55 as sighted through the opening 54 provides a gauge which indicates the measure of spread to which the top wedge member 34 has been moved.

From the foregoing it is readily apparent that an improved spreading tool for insertion within a collapsed or deformed hollow core serves to restore a normally annular or cylindrical shape to the core and also to the products carried thereon. No damage to the product occurs because no direct contact with the product is made. Thus, the spreading tool provides a useful device in reforming rolls of material which would not otherwise fit into manufacturing machinery in their deformed condition. The reforming is realized while carrying out the steps of inserting the expansible wedge carried on the spreading tool into the hollow core and driving the wedge into full engagement with the interior of the collapsed core. Finally, expanding the wedge radially relative to the core returns the core to its normally annular configuration.

I claim:

1. A spreading tool of a type for insertion within a collapsed or'deformed hollow core of a normally annular product for expanding within the core to reform the annular configuration of the product comprising an elongate rigid hollow staff, wedging elements forming one end of said hollow staff for insertion into said core, one of said wedging elements being rigidly fixed to said one end, another of said elements being secured to said one end and movable between spaced and proximate positions relatively to the first named one of said wedging elements to provide an expanded and contracted wedging means at said one end, dual acting hydraulic means fixed within the other end of said hollow staff including a cylinder and a piston, a cam surface formed on one of said wedging elements, a rod attached at one end to said piston and extending through said hollow staff, a movable wedge member attached to the other end of said rod and disposed between said wedging elements for movement between advanced and retracted positions therebetween into and out of engagement with said cam surface, and an enlarged solid mass attached to the outer end of said cylinder forming an anvil for receiving striking blows for driving said wedging means into said core to a selected position therein, whereby upon activation said hydraulic means serves to force said elements apart at said position to reform said core and product from within.

2. A spreading tool as in claim 1 together with gauge means for indicating the measure of expansion of said wedge elements.

3. A spreading tool of a type for insertion within a collapsed or deformed hollow core of a normally annular product to be expanded within the core to reform the annular configuration of the product comprising an elongate rigid staff, laterally expansible rigid wedging means carried at one end of said staff for insertion into said core, an operating member movable to laterally expand said wedging means, hydraulic means attached to the other end of said rigid staff coupled to said operating member and including a cylinder and a piston selectively operable to expand said wedging means to reform said core and product from within, and an enlarged solid mass sealing the outer end of said cylinder and forming an anvil for receiving striking blows for driving said wedging means into said core to a selected position therein.

4. A spreading tool according to claim 3 wherein said wedging means comprises a pair of elongate wedging elements carried at said one end of said staff, one of said elements being pivotally coupled to move between closed and open positions, a cam surface formed on one of said elements, a movable wedge member attached to one end of said operating member disposed between said elements and movable between advanced and retracted positions therebetween said hydraulic piston being attached to the other end of said operating member for driving said wedge member, said hydraulic cylinder containing said piston and having pressure inlets at each end whereby said piston may selectively drive said wedge member into and out of engagement with said cam surface.

5. A tool for restoring the annular shape to a deformed roll of material collected on a hollow supporting core comprising an elongate rigid hollow shaft having a rear and a forward end, a chamber fixed to the rear end of said shaft, an anvil cap on the end of said chamber, a piston disposed in said chamber and movable in said chamber, a flow passage in each end of said chamber in fluid communication with said chamber on opposite sides of said piston, a fixed wedge segment attached to the forward end of said shaft adapted to enter said core, a movable wedge segment attached to said forward end and adapted to enter said core, said movable wedge segment having a portion disposed adjacent said fixed wedge segment, said anvil cap sealing the outer end of said chamber having sufficient mass and bulk to receive striking blows thereagainst to force said wedge segments into the supporting core, a cam follower surface formed internally in said movable wedge segment, a cam slideably disposed between said wedge segments for contacting said cam follower surface, and

a piston rod joining said piston and said cam whereby hydraulic pressure admitted through one of said flow passages moves said piston and rod so as to force said cam into engagement with said cam follower surface for spreading said wedge segments and hydraulic pressure admitted through the other of said flow passages moves said piston to withdraw said cam out of engagement with said cam follower surface thereby allowing said wedge segments to collapse.

6. A tool for restoring the annular shape to a deformed roll of material collected on a hollow supporting core as in claim 5 wherein said. hollow shaft has an opening extending through the hollow shaft wall, a vernier scale surrounding said opening, and a mark on said piston rod visible through said opening, whereby the relative position between said mark and said vemier scale provides a measure of the spreading of said wedge segments. 

1. A spreading tool of a type for insertion within a collapsed or deformed hollow core of a normally annular product for expanding within the core to reform the annular configuration of the product comprising an elongate rigid hollow staff, wedging elements forming one end of said hollow staff for insertion into said core, one of said wedging elements being rigidly fixed to said one end, another of said elements being secured to said one end and movable between spaced and proximate positions relatively to the first named one of said wedging elements to provide an expanded and contracted wedging means at said one end, dual acting hydraulic means fixed within the other end of said hollow staff including a cylinder and a piston, a cam surface formed on one of said wedging elements, a rod attached at one end to said piston and extending through said hollow staff, a movable wedge member attached to the other end of said rod and disposed between said wedging elements for movement between advanced and retracted positions therebetween into and out of engagement with said cam Surface, and an enlarged solid mass attached to the outer end of said cylinder forming an anvil for receiving striking blows for driving said wedging means into said core to a selected position therein, whereby upon activation said hydraulic means serves to force said elements apart at said position to reform said core and product from within.
 2. A spreading tool as in claim 1 together with gauge means for indicating the measure of expansion of said wedge elements.
 3. A spreading tool of a type for insertion within a collapsed or deformed hollow core of a normally annular product to be expanded within the core to reform the annular configuration of the product comprising an elongate rigid staff, laterally expansible rigid wedging means carried at one end of said staff for insertion into said core, an operating member movable to laterally expand said wedging means, hydraulic means attached to the other end of said rigid staff coupled to said operating member and including a cylinder and a piston selectively operable to expand said wedging means to reform said core and product from within, and an enlarged solid mass sealing the outer end of said cylinder and forming an anvil for receiving striking blows for driving said wedging means into said core to a selected position therein.
 4. A spreading tool according to claim 3 wherein said wedging means comprises a pair of elongate wedging elements carried at said one end of said staff, one of said elements being pivotally coupled to move between closed and open positions, a cam surface formed on one of said elements, a movable wedge member attached to one end of said operating member disposed between said elements and movable between advanced and retracted positions therebetween said hydraulic piston being attached to the other end of said operating member for driving said wedge member, said hydraulic cylinder containing said piston and having pressure inlets at each end whereby said piston may selectively drive said wedge member into and out of engagement with said cam surface.
 5. A tool for restoring the annular shape to a deformed roll of material collected on a hollow supporting core comprising an elongate rigid hollow shaft having a rear and a forward end, a chamber fixed to the rear end of said shaft, an anvil cap on the end of said chamber, a piston disposed in said chamber and movable in said chamber, a flow passage in each end of said chamber in fluid communication with said chamber on opposite sides of said piston, a fixed wedge segment attached to the forward end of said shaft adapted to enter said core, a movable wedge segment attached to said forward end and adapted to enter said core, said movable wedge segment having a portion disposed adjacent said fixed wedge segment, said anvil cap sealing the outer end of said chamber having sufficient mass and bulk to receive striking blows thereagainst to force said wedge segments into the supporting core, a cam follower surface formed internally in said movable wedge segment, a cam slideably disposed between said wedge segments for contacting said cam follower surface, and a piston rod joining said piston and said cam whereby hydraulic pressure admitted through one of said flow passages moves said piston and rod so as to force said cam into engagement with said cam follower surface for spreading said wedge segments and hydraulic pressure admitted through the other of said flow passages moves said piston to withdraw said cam out of engagement with said cam follower surface thereby allowing said wedge segments to collapse.
 6. A tool for restoring the annular shape to a deformed roll of material collected on a hollow supporting core as in claim 5 wherein said hollow shaft has an opening extending through the hollow shaft wall, a vernier scale surrounding said opening, and a mark on said piston rod visible through said opening, whereby the relative position between said mark and said vernier scale provides a measure of the spreading of said wedge segments. 